109-686: Coca-Cola Coliseum (also or formerly known as CNE Coliseum , Royal Coliseum , Ricoh Coliseum , Toronto Coliseum , or Coliseum ) is an arena at Exhibition Place in Toronto , Ontario , Canada, used for agricultural displays, ice hockey , and trade shows. It was built for the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (the Royal) in 1921. Since 1997 it has been part of
218-542: A 20-year lease for the arena, with an option to extend the term for a further 10 years. Their lease calls for rent to cover debt financing charges, property taxes and generate a return to the arena investors, which exceeds $ 4 million annually. The team, which was subsequently renamed the Toronto Marlies , debuted in their new home on October 12, 2005, with a 5–2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch , in front of
327-399: A 49-year lease to the arena. The City of Toronto invested CA$ 9 million in the project and guaranteed Borealis' loans, while remaining the owner of the building. In 2003, Japanese office supply company Ricoh purchased the naming rights to the new facility for CA$ 10 million over ten years, with an optional five-year extension. During the summer of 2015, a new scoreboard was installed at
436-626: A Modernist façade main entrance to the south in 1963. The original façade was restored when the Enercare Centre was built. It is home to the minor league Toronto Marlies professional ice hockey team during the winter months. Every November, it is used for the "Royal Horse Show" component of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair annually in November. In another partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment,
545-615: A WindShare wind turbine was built to the west of the Fort Rouillé site. The wind turbine has since been renamed ExPlace Wind Turbine . During the 2000s, the Exhibition Place grounds has seen several proposals for new uses. In July 2005, the City of Toronto asked for aquarium proposals from private enterprises. The only two respondents, Ripley Entertainment and Oceanus Holdings, suggested that they would be interested provided
654-660: A crowd of 8,056. The Coliseum hosted the 2007 AHL All-Star Game on January 29, 2007. In 2023 the city approved amendments to MLSE's lease of the Coliseum including a 10 year extension starting in 2025, with an option for a further 10 year extension. On October 27, 2021, the city of St. John's voted to evict the Newfoundland Growlers from their home arena of Mary Brown's Centre , citing workplace harassment of arena employees. The Growlers initially reached an agreement to relocate their first six home games to be at
763-463: A display of foundations of New Fort York which once occupied part of the site. Exhibition Place was also home to Exhibition Stadium, which was built out of the fourth Grandstand by adding two extra wings of seats. The original grandstand had been constructed in the late 1800s and was re-modelled, replaced, or destroyed over the years. It served as home to the CFL's Toronto Argonauts between 1958 and 1988 and
872-465: A few days later and arena work commenced in June 1921. The cornerstone was laid by Toronto Mayor Thomas Church on July 27, 1921. Robert Fleming, President of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) declared that the building would be the largest of its kind in the world, with a floor space of 8.5 acres (3.4 ha). The Fair Association had hoped for the arena to be open by the fall of 1921 to inaugurate
981-546: A high-speed open-wheel car racing circuit for the first time. The race, known today as the Honda Indy Toronto, has taken place annually since, and is part of the IndyCar Series . The streets of Exhibition Place are closed off to regular traffic and a closed circuit is made through the grounds and along Lake Shore Boulevard. The race meant the end of the landmark Bulova/Shell Oil observation tower. In 1987,
1090-405: A new call for tenders was done. The lowest tender received was from Anglin-Norcross Ltd. of Montreal for CA$ 892,000 to build the building to City Architect F. W. Price's specifications. There was a reticence to hire a Montreal firm, and the city held off on awarding the contract while Price sought out construction offers from local firms to do the work using day labour, although the legality of this
1199-591: A public square, and move the parking underground. South of the central section are two pedestrian bridges over Lake Shore Boulevard to the Ontario Place complex. The east block was the most active area of military usage and retains the only military building left on the site, the Stanley Barracks Officers' Quarters, dating to the 1840s. The area is a mix of buildings, including the older Coliseum, Horse Palace and newer buildings. The section
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#17327931635991308-470: A tunnel. Along the top of the hall at towers above entrances are four rotating spotlights which are illuminated when shows are being held at the centre. The external southern frontage differs along its length. The eastern section mimics the building style of the Automotive Building, using masonry and columns, while the western section is steel and glass, described as "flamboyant futurism". To
1417-554: A watercourse laid out on Lake Ontario. As a result of the games, the 2015 Toronto Honda Indy was scheduled in June to allow for time for the site to prepare for the Pan Am Games. As well the site was wound down in time for setup for the 2015 Canadian National Exhibition (scheduled to open August 21). While the CNE only lasts for a few weeks at the end of the summer, many major permanent buildings and other structures have been built over
1526-517: Is a large open paved area in the southern central section, which is used for parking and the temporary amusements of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). The site has a variety of historic buildings, open spaces and monuments. The eastern entrance to Exhibition Place is marked by the large ceremonial Princes' Gates, named for Edward, Prince of Wales , and his brother, Prince George , who visited in 1927. The roads are all named after Canadian provinces and territories except for Princes' Boulevard, which
1635-531: Is a publicly owned mixed-use district in Toronto , Ontario , Canada, located by the shoreline of Lake Ontario , just west of downtown . The 197-acre (80 ha) site includes exhibit, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, monuments, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial, and national historic sites. The district's facilities are used year-round for exhibitions, trade shows, public and private functions, and sporting events. From mid-August through Labour Day each year,
1744-532: Is a rectangular site located length-wise along the north shoreline of Lake Ontario to the west of downtown Toronto. The site is mostly flat ground sloping down gently to the shoreline. It was originally forested land, and was cleared for military use. Sections east and south of the Stanley Barracks building were filled in the early part of the 20th century. Today, the district is mostly paved, with an area of parkland remaining in its western section. There
1853-554: Is dominated by the exhibition complex of the Enercare Centre, Coliseum and the Industry Building. The Horse Palace (which adjoins the Coliseum and is used for equine shows and quartering), the Automotive Building (which was once used for car shows and is now a conference centre) and the General Services Building are all older exhibition buildings dating from the 1920s. The new "Hotel X" project includes
1962-596: Is the soccer -specific stadium, BMO Field . There is also an arena, the Coliseum , home to professional ice hockey . The site was used for several sports venues of the 2015 Pan American Games . The site is administered by the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place, appointed by the City of Toronto . As of 2014, the organization had 133 full-time employees, up to 700 during major events, contributed CA$ 11 million annually to
2071-583: Is the main street east to west. Several of the roads are used for the annual Grand Prix of Toronto car race. South of the grounds is Ontario Place , a theme park built in 1971 on landfill in Lake Ontario, and operated by the government of Ontario. The site also has a long history of sports facilities on the site, starting with an equestrian track and grandstand. The grandstand eventually was converted for use by music concerts, major league baseball and football teams. The newest sports facility to be built
2180-403: Is used by the Canadian National Exhibition and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair , as well as by various trade shows. In 2015, it hosted several sport competitions and the broadcasting centre for the 2015 Pan American Games . The naming rights for the complex are currently owned by energy services company Enercare Inc., a subsidiary of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners . Located just to
2289-526: Is used to keep the centre in a state of good repair. In 2014, part of Direct Energy was sold to Enercare Inc., including the name-in-title of the centre. The agreement was extended in 2016 for another ten years to end in 2026, at a value of CA$ 7.5 million. At the 2015 Pan American Games , the venue hosted the sports of volleyball in Hall A, handball and roller sports figure skating in Hall B, racquetball and squash in Hall C and gymnastics in
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#17327931635992398-577: The Air Canada Centre , and the old scoreboard was installed at the Coliseum. In 2018, MLSE announced that the Toronto Argonauts football operations offices and weight rooms would be relocated to the Coliseum in late June of that year. On July 11, 2018, at the end of Ricoh's partnership with the building, Coca-Cola purchased the naming rights to the facility for ten years, renaming it the "Coca-Cola Coliseum". Since November 1922,
2507-635: The Bandshell , featured shows at the Coliseum , and the Canadian International Air Show held over Lake Ontario just south of Exhibition Place. The fair is one of the largest and most successful of its kind in North America and an important part of the culture of Toronto. In the fall, the Coliseum hosts the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair . The buildings on the site date from the 1700s to recent years. Five buildings on
2616-432: The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), from which the name Exhibition Place is derived, is held on the grounds. During the CNE, Exhibition Place encompasses 260 acres (1.1 km ), expanding to include nearby parks and parking lots. The CNE uses the buildings for exhibits on agriculture, food, arts and crafts, government and trade displays. For entertainment, the CNE provides a midway of rides and games, music concerts at
2725-683: The Canadian National Exhibition , it hosts the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair annually. Trade shows such as the Toronto International Boat Show , the National Home Show and the One of A Kind Show are held annually in the complex. The Honda Indy Toronto IndyCar race also uses the hall for exhibit space. The City of Toronto uses various rooms for public meetings. It has also been a staple in hosting major volleyball events, such as 2019 Volleyball Canada Nationals and
2834-801: The Enercare Centre exhibition complex. It serves as the home arena of the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women's Hockey League and the American Hockey League 's Toronto Marlies , the farm team of the Toronto Maple Leafs . It will also serve as the home arena of the Toronto WNBA team when it debuts in 2026. On January 1, 1920, Toronto voters approved by plebiscite a proposal by
2943-691: The Horse Palace was built, replacing temporary stables used for the Winter Fair. The Horse Palace used Art Deco ornamentation. In 1936, the Art Deco Bandshell was constructed for open-air music concerts. During the Second World War , the exhibition grounds became Toronto's main military training grounds. The CNE, and virtually all other non-military uses of the lands ceased. The CNE was not held between 1942 and 1946, when
3052-487: The Horticulture Building became a night club known as "Muzik." The Automotive Building was turned over to private management and is used exclusively for private events and conferences & has become known as the "Beanfield Centre" since 2017 by virtue of a naming rights agreement. In 1999, Exhibition Stadium , mostly vacant after the opening of the downtown SkyDome stadium, was demolished. The site
3161-649: The Louisville Panthers AHL franchise, which had suspended operations for the 2001–2002 season, and relocate it to the Coliseum, but the AHL voted against the transaction in December 2001. The Toronto Maple Leafs pressured the Hamilton Bulldogs , who held territorial rights to Toronto since it fell within their 50-mile home territory, to veto the transaction. The Leafs reportedly did not want
3270-505: The Toronto Blue Jays (AL) between 1977 and 1989. The two teams left for SkyDome (now Rogers Centre) in 1989. After it lost many stadium concert tours to Rogers Centre, and many other outdoor concerts to the nearby Budweiser Stage (then known as Molson Amphitheatre) at Ontario Place, its usefulness was at an end. The stadium was demolished in 1999 to serve as parking and allow a more sprawling midway. However, on October 26, 2005,
3379-601: The Toronto Roadrunners . Borealis signed a 49-year sublease to the building with the Roadrunners for $ 9,500 per game. On November 1, 2003, the Coliseum made its debut as an ice hockey venue, as the Roadrunners tied the Rochester Americans 1-1. However, the Roadrunners' lease was terminated in June 2004, following their first season, for defaulting on its rent. The Oilers chose to relocate
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3488-543: The 1920s, the exhibition grounds were expanded to the west and to the east, as well as to the south, where reclaimed land was used to build Lake Shore Boulevard (originally "Boulevard Drive"), connecting downtown with Toronto's growing western suburbs. The Coliseum, to host the new Royal Agricultural Winter Fair , was opened in 1921, followed by the Government of Ontario Building in 1926, the Princes' Gates in 1927, and
3597-613: The 1959 Dufferin Gate. A monorail was proposed to move people around the site and to and from the parking lots. It had first been proposed to connect Union Station and the Exhibition Grounds. Dufferin Street was to be connected to Lake Shore Boulevard, a new four-lane road along the north of the site and a new 1800-place parking lot taking the place of buildings to the west of Dufferin. The plan resulted in some demolition, such as
3706-655: The 1970s, plans were floated to outfit CNE Coliseum for ice hockey . When the World Hockey Association 's Ottawa Nationals moved to Toronto as the Toronto Toros , they initially wanted to play at a renovated CNE Coliseum. However, due to objections from Maple Leafs vice president Bill Ballard , the Toros played at Varsity Arena before briefly becoming tenants of the Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens . In
3815-478: The 2016 season. In conjunction with the stadium construction, Princes' Boulevard was re-routed to the south of the stadium. The Coliseum (1922, now part of the Enercare Centre complex) is an indoor arena. It is an example of Beaux-Arts design by City architect George F. W. Price and renovated by Brisbin Brook Beynon, Architects. Its main entrance was originally to the north, and the building was remodelled with
3924-745: The Biosteel Centre (now the OVO Athletic Centre ), a practice facility which is shared part-time with the community. In the south-east, along Lake Shore Boulevard, the Hotel X Toronto was constructed on the site of New Fort York. The foundations of several of the New Fort York buildings were revealed as part of the development. The hotel was built to complement the facilities of the Enercare and Allstream Centres. The soccer stadium
4033-549: The Board of Agriculture for Canada West inaugurated the Provincial Agricultural Fair of Canada West in 1846, to be held annually in different localities. For the 1858 fair, to be held in Toronto, a permanent "Palace of Industry" exhibition building, based on London's Crystal Palace , was built at King and Shaw Streets in what is now Liberty Village . The site held four more fairs until the 1870s when
4142-521: The CNE became the world's largest annual fair in 1920, a 50-year plan was launched following the urban design and architectural precedents of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago . Chapman and Oxley prepared the 1920 plan, which emphasized Beaux-Arts architecture and City Beautiful urban design. The Empire Court was to be a monumental central space with a triumphal arch and gates and monumental exhibition buildings with courtyards. During
4251-620: The CNE held the CNE Horse Show, a competitive event in the Coliseum. At one time run during the Ex, it changed to be a pre-CNE event in 2005. It has been used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride . During the 2009, 2010 and 2011 CNE, it was used for a figure skating show. The arena is also used for trade shows. The annual Boat Show builds an indoor pond over the arena floor. As early as
4360-516: The CNE's Canadian National Exhibition Chorus performed in the arena. In 2007, the Coliseum hosted the first We Day concert. In March 2016, the Coliseum hosted the WWE Network special Roadblock . All Elite Wrestling (AEW) scheduled its first ever Canadian shows at the Coliseum, with a live broadcast of AEW Dynamite on October 12, 2022, and a taping of Rampage the following night. Exhibition Place Exhibition Place
4469-522: The Canadian military returned the grounds back to its civilian administrators. After the military vacated Stanley Barracks, the CNE made plans for the Barracks' demolition. However, until 1951, the buildings were used for emergency housing. The first phase of demolition in 1951 demolished all of the wooden buildings, leaving only the original stone buildings. In 1953, despite public opposition, three of
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4578-460: The City of Toronto agreed to an extensive renovation of the Coliseum to attract a professional ice hockey team to the arena. At a cost of CA$ 38 million, the arena's capacity was expanded from 6,500 to 9,700 by building a new higher roof, lowering the floor, adding new seats in the expanded area and the installation of 38 private suites. Borealis Infrastructure contributed CA$ 9 million up front and CA$ 20 million of borrowed funds in return for
4687-460: The City of Toronto approved the construction of a 20,000 seat soccer stadium (BMO Field) on Exhibition Place land. The CNE has been host to four grandstands since its inception. The third grandstand, designed by G. W. Gouinlock, was built in 1907 and had a capacity of 16,000. It burned down in 1946, subsequently leading to the construction of the fourth (known as CNE Grandstand ), built in 1948. Designed by architects Marani and Morris, this building
4796-617: The City of Toronto government decided the exhibition had outgrown the site. The City signed a lease with the Government of Canada for a section of the western end of the reserve in April 1878. The Palace of Industry was moved to a site on the reserve near today's Horticulture Building, reconstructed and expanded. The City sold the King and Shaw site to the Massey Manufacturing Company . The 1878 Provincial Agricultural Fair
4905-460: The City of Toronto, and attracted 5.3 million visitors annually to the site. The grounds are 192 acres (78 ha) in area. The small fort Fort Rouillé was built by French fur traders in 1750–1751 as a trading post on the site of today's grounds. The area was an important portage route for Native Americans , and the French wanted to capture their trade before they reached British posts to
5014-500: The Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, however they subsequently came to an agreement with the nearby city of Conception Bay South to play in the games at their local arena. On April 30, 2024, it was announced that the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women's Hockey League —which played most of its inaugural regular season out of Mattamay Athletic Centre —would host its playoff games at the Coliseum. The Sceptres hosted
5123-406: The Coliseum and Horse Palace can be integrated into an exhibition. The project cost CA$ 180 million ( CA$ 313 million in 2023 dollars) . The cost was shared equally by the Toronto, Ontario and Canadian governments. The entire southern frontage is a long hall, linking the exhibit spaces with various offices. Most of the southern wall of the hall is glass, providing light to the entrances to
5232-459: The Coliseum has been used by the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair held in November annually except during the years of World War II . The Fair uses the arena for the annual "Royal Horse Show" equestrian competition, as well as animal presentations. Each year in August, the Coliseum is used by the CNE for exhibits and performances. It has in the past used for CNE cat, dog and horse shows. Until 2013,
5341-583: The Coliseum to be upgraded as it would compete with their newly opened Air Canada Centre . Next, the group began pursuing the Bulldogs, which were owned by their NHL affiliate the Edmonton Oilers . The Bulldogs did not require league approval to move to Toronto since the Coliseum was within their territory. An agreement was reached with the Oilers to relocate the Bulldogs to Toronto, and to rename them
5450-500: The Coliseum. In 1997, the National Trade Centre (now the Enercare Centre ) exhibition complex was built. The new project removed the 1963 entrance and cladding, restoring the original facade, although the cupola towers on the southern facade had been removed in the 1963 renovation. Access to the Coliseum was moved to the western entrance of the exhibition complex through a hall known as Heritage Court. In November 2002,
5559-575: The Electrical and Engineering Building in 1928. By the 1930s, the Beaux-Arts style faded in popularity. The start of the trend for a new style of architecture arguably became evident in the construction of the Automotive Building in 1929, the first building that moved away from the Beaux-Art architecture envisioned by the 1920 plan, mixing clean modern lines with classical ornamentation. In 1931,
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#17327931635995668-632: The Electrical and Engineering Building in 1972 (allegedly in poor structural condition) and the General Exhibits Building and Art Gallery, which were in the path of the new road. In 1974, the International Building, (formerly the Transportation Building), to the west of the bandshell, burnt down. It was hosting an exhibit on Spain during the CNE when it caught fire and was destroyed. The building
5777-560: The Fire Hall/Police Station, built in 1912. Just south of Dufferin Gate is Centennial Square, a green space with a bandstand. The Ontario Government Building was added later in 1926. The Bandshell, modeled after the famed Art Deco Hollywood Bowl was built in 1936, replacing a 1906 bandstand. North of the Bandshell is Bandshell Park, a large open green space for gatherings. Near the Bandshell is the 1790s Scadding Cabin ,
5886-428: The Food Building (1954), the Shell Oil Tower (1955), Queen Elizabeth Building (1957) and the Princess Margaret Fountain (1958). In the later 1950s, the new six-lane Gardiner Expressway was pushed through the north side of the grounds, cut below grade in the western section of the grounds, and an elevated section in the eastern section. This necessitated the demolition of the Dufferin Gate, the Women's Rest building and
5995-451: The Government Building was used as a barracks for soldiers, and a tent camp was set up on the site of the current Ontario Government Building (now Liberty Grand). The Dufferin Gates was manned by soldiers. The Stanley Barracks was also used as a prisoners-of-war and "enemy aliens" internment camp. The internment camp served as an intake centre; those interned at the Barracks stayed there temporarily before being moved to other camps. When
6104-412: The Grandstand to house Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame . In 1963, the Coliseum was re-clad with a modernist south facade. To replace its exhibit in the Ontario Government Building, the Government of Ontario built Ontario Place on artificial islands to the south of Exhibition Place (accessible via two foot bridges). Coinciding with the opening of the ultra-modern Ontario Place to
6213-412: The Machinery Hall. The new parabolic arch Dufferin Gate was built in 1959. On January 3, 1961, the Manufacturer's Building and the Women's Building (the one built prior to the Queen Elizabeth Building) were destroyed by fire. The buildings were replaced by the Better Living Centre, which came with a distinctive Mondrian -inspired ornament on its roof. In 1961, the Hall of Fame building opened north of
6322-414: The Manufacturers' building, which burned down in 1961. The new building replaced the exhibit space of the Manufacturers' Building and the General Exhibit Building. The CNE no longer uses the Better Living Centre for its original purpose of introducing consumers to the latest and greatest products during the CNE. Instead, it has been divided in two. One-half hosts the CNE Casino for the month of August, while
6431-452: The Music Building, which had closed due to structural problems, was gutted by fire. The 1907 exterior was restored and a new interior was built. In the 1990s, budget pressures on the City of Toronto led to a new emphasis on the self-sufficiency of Exhibition Place. It saw the tear-down of the permanent midway buildings and the Flyer roller coaster. The City planned to charge rent to the midway's operator, Conklin Shows, which chose to tear down
6540-414: The National Trade Centre, took over the location of the old TTC streetcar loop and CNE entrance and the open space vacant since the Electrical and Engineering Building was demolished. It is interconnected with the Coliseum and the Industry Building to the north to provide one large, configurable exhibition space. Home to the Toronto International Boat Show , the National Home Show, the One of A Kind Show, and
6649-400: The Roadrunners to Edmonton for the following season due to poor attendance and in anticipation of the impending NHL lockout , leaving the Coliseum without a hockey tenant. In August 2004 Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announced that they would relocate their AHL farm team from St. John's, Newfoundland to Toronto to play in the Coliseum for the 2005–2006 season, after agreeing on
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#17327931635996758-401: The Royal Agricultural Fair Association to construct, at a maximum cost of CA$ 1 million, a new arena for livestock. The City of Toronto government (City) made a call for tenders in the fall of 1920 but the lowest tender was CA$ 1.9 million, exceeding the mandate approved by plebiscite. The size of the planned building was reduced by half in an attempt to get the cost under CA$ 1 million and
6867-399: The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the CNE and other events. The arena was also used as a horse barn. In time for the 1963 CNE, the southern facade was reconstructed. As part of the renovation, the southern facade was reclad with black, grey and white siding and a new front plaza was built, with a large "COLISEUM" sign on top. The CNE spent CA$ 3 million from 1960 until 1963 on "face-lifting"
6976-448: The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Designed by architectural teams Zeidler Partnership Architects and Dunlop-Farrow Architects. During the exhibition, the building houses international product displays and animal shows. Enercare Centre Enercare Centre , formerly known as the Direct Energy Centre and originally the National Trade Centre , is an exhibition complex located at Exhibition Place in Toronto , Ontario, Canada. It
7085-470: The Stanley Barracks), to be located to the west of the existing fort. To finance this, the military sold the eastern half of the reserve. In 1840–1841, they constructed a series of six limestone buildings and several smaller ones. The fort was surrounded by a wood fence as elaborate defensive works were never built. The fort was turned over to the Canadian military in 1870, which named it Stanley Barracks in 1893. The Provincial Agricultural Association and
7194-420: The adjoining Ricoh Coliseum . Pan American Games organizers referred to the centre as the "Exhibition Centre". The building was also the location of the Main Press and Broadcasting Centre for the Games (in Hall D). In 2015, the Exhibition Place Board of Governors and the City of Toronto commissioned a study of a possible expansion of the facility. The proposed expansion would add an additional hall connected to
7303-559: The agreement, military uses were permitted to continue until such time that replacement facilities were built. Included in this was Old Fort York, which the City committed to preserve. The building campaign saw the building of fifteen permanent buildings designed by architect G. W. Gouinlock from 1903 until 1912, including the surviving Press Building, Horticulture Building, Government Building , Music Building and Fire Hall / Police Station. The new buildings were elaborately designed and set in an attractively landscaped site. The 1903 exhibition
7412-413: The buildings instead and set up temporary rides each year for the CNE. The new National Trade Centre (now the Enercare Centre ) trade show building, planned since the 1971 plan, was built on the vacant Electrical Building site to host more and larger trade shows year-round. It incorporated the Coliseum and Annex buildings to create one large exhibit space. In 2003, the Coliseum (now the Coca-Cola Coliseum)
7521-405: The buildings to the west: the Better Living Centre (exhibition space), the Queen Elizabeth Building complex (theatre, exhibition and administration sections) and the Food Building. The BMO Field soccer stadium, built in 2007, is situated on the site of the 1947 Grandstand and the 1961 Halls of Fame building. South of BMO Field is a large open parking lot and midway area. The CNE plans to make the area
7630-421: The central block of the site, exhibited a new Modernist style of architecture. In 1946, the third Grandstand burned down. In its place was built the fourth Grandstand, a massive concrete construction and monumental cantilevered steel roof was a sharp contrast to the other buildings around it. The Modernist trend continued with the construction of other buildings and monuments typifying the modernist style including
7739-411: The early 2000s, there were efforts to bring a minor professional hockey team to the Coliseum. Plans to move the dormant Phoenix Roadrunners of the International Hockey League to Toronto for the 2002–2003 season fell apart when the league dissolved and six teams, but not the Roadrunners, were absorbed by the American Hockey League (AHL) in the summer of 2001. The same group then attempted to purchase
7848-542: The exhibit halls which have no windows. At the eastern end of the hall is a small open exhibition space, sometimes used as an art gallery, used by the CNE for cat and dog shows. At the eastern end of the hall is a "living wall." Under the main exhibit space is an underground parking garage, providing 1,300 spaces, which is connected to the Beanfield Centre in the Automotive Building to the south by
7957-652: The first game of its first round series against the Minnesota Frost on May 8; the Sceptres won 4–0 in front of a sold-out crowd. On September 3, 2024, Coca-Cola Coliseum was officially announced as the Sceptres's primary venue for the 2024-25 PWHL season. The Coliseum has been used for numerous musical concerts. Acts that have performed there include Playboi Carti , Jimi Hendrix , The Doors , The Who , Genesis , Bob Dylan , Vanilla Fudge , Mötley Crüe , G.E.M. , Hatsune Miku and Kraftwerk . From 1922 to 1934,
8066-489: The grandstand was demolished, open-air concerts during the CNE have been held at the Bandshell. The Blue Jays and Argos left the open-air Exhibition Stadium for the retractable roofed Skydome (now, the Rogers Centre) in 1989. By that time it was recognized that the building was beginning to visibly decay, and was little used in its final decade of existence. Though it was the earliest of the modernist-style buildings on
8175-539: The grounds, it was the only one not to become a historically listed building. It was finally demolished in 1999. In 2007, the open-air BMO Field soccer-specific stadium was constructed on the site of the former Exhibition Stadium and the Canada Sports Hall of Fame buildings. The Hall of Fame building had been vacated by the Hockey Hall of Fame and was demolished to make way for the stadium. The stadium
8284-561: The home base for the Toronto Argonauts football team, and later, to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. Architect Bill Sanford designed the alterations for baseball in 1976. A stock car race held on the grounds marked a historical race; on July 18, 1958, Richard Petty made his NASCAR Grand National Series debut at Exhibition Stadium. In addition to sports, CNE Grandstand was the stage for many entertainers over
8393-712: The land and its facilities were turned over to the Department of National Defence as a training ground. The Graphic Arts Building housed Red Cross facilities, the Coliseum became the RCAF Manning Depot, the Horse Palace was used for barracks and the Automotive Building became the shore facility HMCS York for the Royal Canadian Navy. After World War II, the buildings were used as a demobilization centre. The CNE would resume again in 1947, as
8502-409: The latest models of various consumer goods, ranging from vacuum cleaners to kitchen appliances. The building's stark modernist architecture, made up of large white forms, a vast flat roof and harsh angles, suited its futurist themes. The building was designed by architects Marani, Morris and Allan and was opened by Toronto mayor Nathan Phillips on August 17, 1962. It was built on the former site of
8611-533: The location was closer downtown or had better transit access and parking. When the City of Toronto was considering the construction of a permanent casino, the CNE was the site of several proposals. The aquarium was built next to the CN tower and the City chose not to build a permanent casino. Two new buildings have been added at Exhibition Place. In the north-west corner, the Toronto Raptors basketball team built
8720-653: The new OVO Athletic Centre (originally known as the Biosteel Centre) was completed in 2016 at the west end of Exhibition Place on parking lot lands. The facility is a practice facility for the Toronto Raptors National Basketball Association team. It has two basketball courts. The facility displaced some parkland, including a baseball diamond on the site used for a CNE tournament. One of the Modernist buildings on
8829-474: The new fair, but it was not ready. The CA$ 1 million ( CA$ 13.8 million in 2023 dollars) building had its official public opening on December 16, 1921, attended by 5,000 persons to see an athletic meet put on by the "Sportsmen Patriotic Association." Upon completion, the building was billed as the largest of its kind in North America. The name "Coliseum" was given to the building in 1922, in time for
8938-454: The north of the new addition is the "Heritage Court" hall, oriented west–east, which links the Coliseum, the Annex and the new addition. It is 50,000 square feet (4,600 m ) in size. The western entrance to the complex is at the western end of the hall and serves as the main entrance to the Coliseum. The entrance is mostly glass and has a canopy extending to the west, where a canopy extends to
9047-535: The north, between the Horse Palace and the Coliseum, providing cover to those persons arriving from the TTC loop to the north. The original southern exteriors of the Coliseum and Industry Building, dating back to the 1920s, are preserved inside the hall. The Heritage Court is situated on the site of the TTC rail lines that separated the Coliseum and Industry buildings from the Engineering and Electrical Building. Four of
9156-625: The only building dating to the 1879 inaugural exhibition. There are two large fountains; the Princess Margaret Fountain and the Shrine Monument Fountain south of the Bandshell. To the west of Bandshell park, the former International Building site is now a parking lot, and there is a parking lot in the north-west corner of the site. The central block contains more recent 1950-1960s buildings, which are all replacements for earlier buildings, and are larger than
9265-429: The opening of the CNE. The main entrance was to the north, along Manitoba Drive. The southern side of the building was along the main TTC streetcar rail lines serving the CNE, which separated the Coliseum and Industry Buildings to the north, and the later Engineering and Electrical Building (1928) to the south. In 1926, additions were built and the complex was claimed to be the largest structure of its kind under one roof in
9374-518: The original "Statues of Industry" which adorned the facade of the Electrical and Engineering Building are mounted in the Heritage Court. The Annex building is used to store cattle and small livestock during the Winter Fair and the CNE. Judging is done in small rings within the Annex, in the Coliseum and in a temporary judging area in the new addition. The area is also used by trade shows for demonstration space. As well as being used as part of
9483-478: The original 1913 music bandstand was built on the site of the original in the park north of the Horticulture Building. North of the park a new structure designed to resemble the 1870s-era exhibition buildings was added. The buildings host mostly children's activities during the CNE. The park was renamed Centennial Square and is also used for corporate picnics. In 1986, the streets were turned into
9592-424: The other half is the "Farm, Food and Fun" pavilion during the CNE. The building is used at other times of the year for special events. It hosts an indoor amusement park during March Break and a Hallowe'en exhibit "Screamers" during the month of October. The Enercare Centre (1997), along Princes' Boulevard, has seven exhibit halls with 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m ) of space. The new building, first known as
9701-606: The remaining four stone buildings were demolished for parking, leaving only the Officers' Quarters. In 1955, the Quarters found its first CNE use, for Sports Hall of Fame exhibits before being turned into a year-round Maritime Museum in 1959. A new phase of building construction followed, replacing buildings destroyed by fire, demolished for the Gardiner Expressway, or needed expansions. The new buildings, mostly in
9810-484: The reserve was taken over for exhibition purposes, including a horse track and grandstand, and exhibit buildings. In 1902, after the Government of Canada announced it would sponsor the exhibition at the site in 1903, the Toronto City Council decided to rebuild the exhibition site. In 1903, the Government of Canada reached an agreement to transfer the remaining military reserve to the City of Toronto. Under
9919-435: The site (the Fire Hall/Police Station, Government Building , Horticulture Building , Music Building and Press Building), were designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1988. The grounds have seen a mix of protection for heritage buildings along with new development. The site was originally set aside for military purposes and gradually given over to exhibition purposes. One military building remains. Exhibition Place
10028-494: The site, the original purpose of the Better Living Centre was to introduce new ranges of consumer goods to the baby boomer generation, making it a "space of encounter between consumer and product". For many people attending the CNE, the building hosted their first encounters with such technologies as colour television , transistor radios or home computers . It also became the place where people would expect to see
10137-700: The south, a new master plan for the Exhibition site was developed in 1971. The 1971 Master Plan was radical, calling for the demolition of many pre-World War II buildings, new Modernist buildings, and a massive central public space with a reflecting pool and fountains on the site of Exhibition Stadium, which was to be relocated. The plan proposed the demolition of the Fire Station, Art Gallery, General Exhibits Building, Railways Building, Government Building, Ontario Government Building, Automotive Building, Transportation Building, Band Shell, Grandstand, Shell Tower and
10246-541: The south. It was burned by its garrison in 1759 after other French posts fell to the British on Lake Ontario. When the Town of York , the predecessor of Toronto, was inaugurated in the 1790s, the land to the east and west of the garrison (later Fort York ) was reserved for military purposes. This includes all of today's Exhibition Place. Years later, the British military decided to replace Fort York with New Fort York (later
10355-421: The west end of the main building. Designed by architectural teams Zeidler Partnership Architects and Dunlop-Farrow Architects, the building officially opened on April 3, 1997, with its first show being the National Home Show. It has seven exhibit halls with one million square feet (93,000 m ) of exhibition space. Four of the halls are separated by removable walls to create configurable space. Additionally,
10464-527: The west of the Princes' Gates at the eastern end of Exhibition Place, it was previously the site of a streetcar loop and open space. The new building took over the frontage along Prince's Boulevard and connected to the existing Coliseum and Industry Buildings (also known as the Agricultural Annex), creating a large inter-connected exhibition complex. The existing southern entrance of the Coliseum
10573-583: The world. In 1931, the Horse Palace was built next door to provide a permanent building for the stables of the Winter Fair. From 1942 to 1945, the building was used as a training base for the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and known as the 'Manning Depot'. A photo of it as the RCAF Manning Depot is in the New Westminster Museum and Archives # IHP9562-003. After the war, it mainly hosted equestrian events for
10682-482: The years. Famous comedians who were featured there included Bob Hope , Victor Borge , and Bill Cosby . Similarly, many well-known musical acts made an appearance at the venue, ranging from Duke Ellington , Guy Lombardo , Benny Goodman , The Beach Boys (appearing there 11 times between 1974 and 1990), The Monkees , Sonny & Cher , to Melissa Etheridge , The Who , Simon & Garfunkel , Sinéad O'Connor , Billy Idol , Nine Inch Nails and Tina Turner . After
10791-632: The years. Most are used for other purposes throughout the year. The west end of the grounds is the original site of exhibitions and the oldest buildings are located here. There are five purpose-built fair buildings designed by architect G. W. Gouinlock: the Horticulture Building, built in 1907; the Government Building, built in 1912; the Music Building, built in 1907; the Administration Building, built in 1905; and
10900-602: Was built to host Toronto FC , the Major League Soccer (MLS) team as well as the Canadian national soccer team . Capacity is approximately 31,000 people. It opened on April 28, 2007, the start of the 2007 MLS season. Under the FIFA-sanctioned name "National Soccer Stadium", it was the center-piece venue for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup . It was expanded for the 2015 season and had a new roof installed for
11009-524: Was demolished and integrated into the new complex. The streetcar loop was moved to the north of the complex. The open space was previously the site of the Engineering and Electrical Building, opened in 1928 and torn down in 1972. In 2005, the CNE Board of Directors entered into a ten-year agreement with Direct Energy Inc. to sponsor the centre's name, effective in March 2006. Fees go to a reserve fund which
11118-405: Was demolished and not replaced, the site left vacant and has since used mostly as a parking lot. The 1971 plan was abandoned after Exhibition Stadium was redeveloped and enlarged to host Major League Baseball in 1977. The site officially became Exhibition Place, partly in recognition that very little of the site was retained as parklands. In 1978, to celebrate the centenary of the fair, a copy of
11227-592: Was held on the grounds. When Ottawa was chosen to host the 1879 fair, Toronto decided to hold its own fair. First called the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, it was held in the Crystal Palace and temporary buildings. At first, the eastern part of the site was still reserved for military purposes, the exhibition held on the western part of the reserve, where many of the oldest exhibit buildings are located. As time went by, more and more of
11336-404: Was questioned. Another issue raised was that the revised arena design needed to be expanded to meet the fair's needs. Anglin-Norcross offered to do the work at a further CA$ 31,000 . It took two City Council votes, but Council finally approved the awarding of the contract to Anglin-Norcross on May 26, 1921. Demolition of existing buildings (likely the area with livestock stalls) on the site commenced
11445-626: Was rebuilt and expanded to provide a home for professional ice hockey. It is currently the home of the Toronto Marlies team from October to April each year. The trend to utilize the grounds year-round to cover the grounds' expense, continued with the rental of the Arts & Crafts Building to the Medieval Times theatre company, the Ontario Government Building was rented to become event space known as "Liberty Grand", and
11554-534: Was recently expanded, and adapted to allow it to host the Canadian Football League 's Toronto Argonauts . In July 2015, Exhibition Place was the site of sporting venues for the 2015 Pan American Games. The collection of sites was referred to as "CIBC Pan Am Park" and each building was given a venue name. The Enercare Centre and Coliseum buildings were used for indoor sports, temporary facilities for beach volleyball were built south of BMO Field and
11663-569: Was the first known as the Canadian National Exhibition. The five remaining buildings were declared a historic site in 1988. Several of the older buildings were lost to fire during this time, including the first Grandstand and the Crystal Palace (known as the Transportation Building) in 1906. In 1910, the Dufferin Gates was replaced with a more elaborate arch and out-buildings on each side. During World War I ,
11772-414: Was the first of what would prove to be several Modernist buildings built on the CNE grounds, its distinctive and bold cantilevered truss roof dominating the grounds for over 50 years. It initially housed 22,000 people, but was expanded over the years to a maximum of 54,000 in order to accommodate the additional seating required for major professional sports teams who made CNE Grandstand their home. It became
11881-416: Was vacant until 2007, when the new BMO Field soccer stadium, a public-private partnership, was built on the site to bring Major League Soccer to Toronto. The new soccer stadium also meant the end of the Hall of Fame building. The Hockey Hall of Fame had vacated earlier for downtown Toronto. A portion of the Hall of Fame façade was retained as one of the entrances to the new stadium. As a demonstration project,
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